House “One Big Beautiful Bill”: A Patchwork of Permanent and Fleeting Tax Policies 9

The House Ways and Means Committee has introduced its “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a tax package aiming to solidify numerous temporary and evolving provisions from the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA). This initiative seeks to provide taxpayers with long-term clarity on significant aspects of both individual and international tax frameworks. However, the proposed legislation also introduces a collection of new temporary measures and phaseouts, setting the stage for future congressional deliberations. Let’s delve into the timeline of these new, short-lived tax policies embedded within the House bill.

Individual Tax Provisions: Temporary Relief Ending with Trump’s Term

The bill proposes several temporary tax reductions for individuals, applicable from the 2025 through 2028 tax years. These provisions are slated to expire after President Trump’s current term concludes. Key changes include:

• Increased Child Tax Credit: The maximum child tax credit would rise by $500.
• Enhanced Standard Deduction: Single filers would see a $1,000 increase, head of household filers a $1,500 increase, and joint filers a $2,000 increase in their standard deduction.
• New Deductions: The bill introduces deductions for tip income, the “half” portion of time-and-a-half overtime pay, senior citizens, auto loan interest, and charitable contributions for non-itemizers.
• Scholarship Granting Organization Credit: A new tax credit for contributions to these organizations would be available from 2026 to 2029.
• “MAGA Accounts” Pilot Program: Newborns in tax years 2025 through 2028 would receive a one-time $1,000 deposit into a new tax-preferred savings vehicle.
• Opportunity Zones Extension: The program allowing the designation of new qualifying zones would be extended from January 1, 2027, through December 31, 2033.

Critics argue that these new deductions complicate the tax code, targeting specific taxpayer groups or economic activities and imposing additional administrative burdens on businesses and the Internal Revenue Service. While the temporary nature of these policies is generally seen as unfavorable, some suggest it might be beneficial if these provisions indeed expire and do not become permanent fixtures. The “MAGA accounts” pilot program is also criticized for adding another layer to the already complex landscape of tax-preferred savings vehicles.

Expiring Individual Tax Provisions Under the House’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”

Business Tax Provisions: Temporary Expensing and Interest Deduction Changes

The bill includes three provisions offering full, immediate expensing for specific business investments:

• Machinery and equipment
• Domestic research and development
• Structures in manufacturing, agriculture, and extraction industries

While making these cost recovery provisions permanent could have significantly boosted economic growth, their temporary nature is expected to limit their long-term impact on investment decisions. Businesses typically make long-term investment plans, and a temporary tax benefit coupled with future uncertainty diminishes the intended incentive.

Another business provision loosens the limitation on business net interest deductions, reverting to a 30 percent limit based on a broader measure of business income, consistent with pre-2022 rules. Previous Tax Foundation modeling suggested that a revenue-neutral approach could involve adopting the broader income measure used by other countries while lowering the percentage limit.

Expiring Business Tax Provisions Under the House’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”

Inflation Reduction Act Credits: Setting the Stage for Future Extensions

Changes to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) credits within the bill introduce phaseouts in later years. This approach, as discussed by a Tax Foundation colleague, raises concerns about potential future extensions by Congress. Many existing green energy tax credits have persisted due to repeated short-term extensions before the IRA provided longer durations. This strategy risks turning the current energy tax credits back into “extenders”—policies that outlive their initial expiration dates.

IRA Phaseouts Under the House’s “One Big Beautiful Bill”

Conclusion: Prioritizing Simplicity and Stability Over Temporary Measures

While the effort to make some tax provisions permanent is commendable, the proliferation of new temporary policies and scheduled phaseouts in the “One Big Beautiful Bill” significantly limits its positive impact on economic growth, certainty, and stability. As lawmakers continue their deliberations, a shift towards simpler and more stable tax policies, rather than temporary and complex measures, would be a more beneficial approach.